MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today announced nearly $1.3 million in grants to support quality of life, foster economic development, protect and improve the Great Lakes resources, and create resiliency in Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The 31 grants are administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) to be used by local, state, and Tribal governments, regional planning commissions, universities, and nonprofit organizations. This newly announced funding will support projects totaling over $3.3 million, and throughout the week, Gov. Evers will visit with grant recipients across the state, highlighting the good work of local leaders working to protect Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coastal areas and communities.

“There’s no overstating the importance of our Great Lakes and how these vital natural resources have shaped the culture and economy of our coastal communities and our state’s history,” said Gov. Evers. “Wisconsin’s roughly 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline across Lake Michigan and Lake Superior provide folks with drinking water, commerce, and recreational opportunities that bring millions of visitors and future residents from far and wide. These investments will go a long way toward helping ensure we protect our shoreline communities, address the unique challenges we face, and promote long-term growth and success.”  

“The collaborative public and private projects aided by our coastal programs do so much to expand public access, sustainable use practices, community development, habitat restoration, and address pollution,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “This is a key program with lasting benefits for our state in too many ways to count.” 

Recipients for this year’s grants were recommended by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council, a governor-appointed citizen and governmental advisory group. The funds are part of Wisconsin’s federally funded Coastal Management Program. An interactive story map with details about some past coastal grants is available here.

Since 1978, the WCMP has balanced natural resource protection and sustainable economic development along Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coasts. The program awards federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.

The next Request for Proposals will be available in August 2024, with an application deadline of early November 2024. Additional information about the WCMP can be found here.

A complete list of grant recipients and projects is available here. 

An online version of this release is available here.